Sunshine Express Airlines

Infobox Airline
airline=Sunshine Express Airlines
logo_size=169
IATA=CQ
ICAO=EXL
callsign=Sea
founded=October 1998
headquarters=Brisbane

Sunshine Coast Airport, Queensland, Australia
key_people= Steve Padgett
fleet_size=3
destinations=Brisbane, Biloela, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Sunshine Coast, Tamworth, Armidale.
website= http://www.sunshineexpress.com.au

Sunshine Express Airlines is a charter airline which previously served many regional destinations on the East Coast of Australia, from Hervey Bay to Port Macquarie. Based on the Sunshine Coast, it is one of the major employers at the airport and was a Qantas partner airline.

Sunshine Express ceased all scheduled operations at the end of September 2006 and has decided to concentrate on charter operations [ [http://www.sunshineexpress.com.au/ Sunshine Express website] ] .

History

Established in October 1998, Sunshine Express Airlines was founded by one of Australias aviation leaders, Steve Padgett, to serve many regional routes, mainly out of the Sunshine Coast. It started operations on 25 October 1998Flight International 10 April 2007] . Aeromil, also founded by Steve Padgett, is Sunshine Express' parent company and also has a base at Sunshine Coast Airport.

In their first year, Sunshine Express carried over 24,000 passengers between just two destinations [ [http://www.sunshineexpress.com.au/profile.asp Sunshine Express profile] ] and today carries almost 100,000 passengers. Prior to closure of its scheduled routes, Sunshine Express employed over 40 people and was a Qantas partner airline.

Destinations

Although based on the Sunshine Coast, the majority of its services were from/to Brisbane.

The operated routes were (before 1 October 2006):

*Brisbane - Biloela
*Brisbane - Coffs Harbour - Port Macquarie
*Brisbane - Hervey Bay
*Brisbane - Maryborough
*Brisbane - Tamworth - Armidale

Sunshine Express ceased all scheduled flights from 1 October 2006 to focus on charter operations. Hervey Bay and Biloela are now served by QantasLink. Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie are now served by Brindabella Airlines. Maryborough, Armidale and Tamworth no longer have direct air service to Brisbane. From 7th October 2007, Regional Express Airlines (REX) will commence flights between Maryborough and Brisbane Airport. They will have 36 return flights per week.

Fleet

As of August 2006 the Sunshine Express Airlines fleet includes [Flight International, 3-9 October 2006] :

*1 Fairchild Metro 23
*2 Fairchild Metro III

External links

* [http://www.sunshineexpress.com.au/ Sunshine Express Airlines]
* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Sunshine+Express&distinct_entry=true Sunshine Express Photos]

References